Hinge construction

ABSTRACT

A hinge construction for hinging at least one hollow tubular member at one of its ends to another member for relative swinging through less than 90*, comprises a first small block having flat side secured to that other member and a second small block fitting tightly in the end of the hollow member and having a thinner part with a flat side projecting beyond the hollow member. Both flat sides lie opposite each other and one has a projection fitting slidingly in a semicircular groove in the other flat side and a retaining element maintaining the thin part of the second block against the flat side of the first block. A limiting element limits the angle of relative swinging movement.

United States Patent 1191 Savenije [11] 3,717,902 1451 Feb. 27, 1973HINGE CONSTRUCTION [75] Inventor: Franciscus Gerhardus Savenije, De-

venter, Netherlands [73] Asslgnee: Auping N. V., Deventer, theNetherlands 22 Filed: July 16,1970

21 Appl.No.: 55,483

[52] U.S. Cl. ..16/171,16/178, 5/314 51 1111. C1. ..E05d H06 58 Field orSearch...l6/128 R, 171, 178, 177; 5/68, 5/314 [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1934 .Lowe et al. ..16/128 R X 11/1897 Bailey3,256,640 6/1966 Schnur .L. ..16/178 X 2,765,488 10/1956 Ruff 16/171 UX814,354 3/1906 Carter..... ..16/178 1,962,709 6/1934 Case ..16/1783,027,592 4/1962 Schnur .....16/178 3,256,553 6/1966 Schnur.........16/178 1,363,715 12/1920 Brown ..5/314 2,831,689 4/1958 Marsh..16/138 X 1,087,576 2/1914 Fernald", ..16/177 1,331,678 Schultz..16/177 9/1918 Buch ..16/178 X 2,829,396 4/1958 Kishibay ..16/177 XFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,187,153 2/1965 Germany ..16/128 RPrimary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Peter A. AschenbrennerAttorney-Young and Thompson 1 [57] ABSTRACT A hinge construction forhinging at least one hollow tubular member at one of its ends to anothermember for relative swinging'through less than 90, comprises a firstsmall block having flat side secured to that 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figuresfab/17,902

PATENTEUFEBZHQIS LEE: f

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS HINGE CONSTRUCTION The invention relates to a hingeconstruction for hinging at least one hollow tubular member at one ofits ends to another member, said members being permitted to swingrelatively to one another over an angle of less than 90.

The invention relates in particular to a hinge construction for hingingthe frame of one or two folding members of the resting area of a bed toa supporting frame of said bed.

The object of the invention is to improve and simplify the existinghinge construction of this type.

According to the invention, the hinge consists of a first small blockhaving at least one flat side to be secured to the other member and asecond small block consisting of a part of such a form that said partwill fit tightly in the end of the hollow member and of a thinner panhaving a flat side projecting from said hollow member, both flat sideslying opposite to each other while a projection is formed on the oneflat side, said projection fitting slidingly in a semi-circular grooveprovided in the other flat side, and a retaining element which holds thethin part of the second block against the flat side of the first blockand a limiting element which limits the angle at which the two parts mayhinge relatively to each other to the afore-mentioned angle.

According to the invention, the retaining element may be formedconveniently by an elongation in the form of a plane of said hollowmember, provided at the end of said member and facing the thinnerportion of the second block projecting beyond said end, so that saidelongation and said thinner portion enclose the first block.

When the resting area of a bed consists of two parts which are bothhinged to a supporting frame, the small block to be secured to the othermember has two flat sides with a semi-circular groove of a certain widthand depth in either side and a third block which is identical to saidsecond block fits tightly in the end of the second part to be hinged, sothat these two blocks are situated on either side of the first block andthe projections formed on these blocks engage the respective grooves inthe first block, the retaining elements being formed by the fact that awall of both hollow members is extended beyond the end of said hollowmember by an elongation in the form of a plane, so that the thinnerportion of the block in the one hollow member fits slidingly in thespace between the elongated wall at the end of the other member and theflat side of the first block facing said wall.

The projection on the flat side of the thinner part of a second block ispreferably semi-circular the radius of the circle being approx. equal tothe radius of the semicircular groove in a flat side of the first block.

The blocks forming the hinge are preferably made from a syntheticmaterial.

According to the invention, the hinge construction is very simple andinexpensive and yet fulfills all requirements. Moreover, thisconstruction facilitates the assembly of an adjustable bed.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of three blocks forming the hingeconstruction and taken apart with a fragment of the associated hollowbar shown in phantom line;

FIG. 2 is a view of a part of a bed of which the resting area consistsof two parts which are both hinged to a supporting frame by means of thehinge construction according to FIG. 1.

According to the invention, the hinge comprises three small blocks 1, 2and 3, which e.g. as a whole may be formed from a synthetic material.

The blocks 1 and 3 are essentially identical and consist of a thickportion 4, 5 having a rectangular cross section and a thinner portion 6,7 with a rounded end. A semi-circular part 8, 9 is formed on the flatside facing inwards. The block 2 consists of a part 10 in the form of asheet with flanges 1 1 at one end, while at the end of one of theflanges the part 12 projecting downwards is formed so that the flanges 1l and the part 12 include a right angle. In both sides of the part 10 asemi-circular groove 13, 14 is formed having such width and depth thatthe projecting parts 8, 9 fit into grooves 13, 14 respectively.

In assembled condition, as shown in FIG. 2, the parts 6 and 7 of theblocks 1 and 3 resp. are on either side of the part 10 of the block 2.The parts 4 and 5 of the blocks 1 and 3 have a dimension so that theywill fit tightly in the outer ends of the hollow bars 15 and 16 of thebed frame, which consists of two members which may be swung upwards ininclined direction relative to the supporting frame 17.

FIG. 2 shows the right part 16 of the resting area in partly raisedposition and the left part 15 in horizontal position, at the ends ofwhich both side walls of the bars 15 and 16 are extended by the parts 18and 19 resp., which extend to the center of the block 2, said blockbeing mounted on the supported frame 17. In this way the elongated sidewalls 18 and 1'9 form the retaining elements which hold the parts 6 and7 of the blocks 1 and 3 against the block 2.

In order to prevent the part 6 or 7 of the block 1 or 3 to passcompletely outside the space, which is determined between the part 10 ofthe block 2 and the elongation 18 or 19 of the bars 15 or 16, when saidbar 15 or 16 makes an excessive swinging movement relative to the frame17 so that said part 6 or 7 will not be enclosed any more, limitingelements 20 are provided between the bar 15 or 16 and the frame 17 (FIG.2 shows only the element 20 between the bar 16 and the frame 17). Theselimiting elements will act in addition as supporting means of the partsof the resting area which are raised.

What is claimed is: V

1. In a hinge construction for pivotally connecting at least one hollowelongated member at one of its ends to a support member, so that saidmembers are swingable relative to one another over an angle of less thansaid hinge construction comprising a first hinge member adapted to besecured to said support member and having at least one flat surface, anda second hinge member adapted to be secured to said hollow member andhaving a flat surface, said flat surfaces of both hinge members facingone another in an abutting relationship, a projection on one saidsurface and a semicircular groove in the other said surface, saidprojection slidably fitting into said groove; the improvement in whichsaid second hinge member comprises a blocklike portion which snugglyfits into said hollow elongated member and a portion projecting fromsaid hollow member and off-set from one of the side walls of said hollowmember and carrying said flat surface, retaining means maintaining saidflat surfaces against one another, said retaining means comprising anintegral extension of said one side wall of said hollow elongatedmember, so that said extension and said projecting portion of the secondhinge member enclose said first hinge member, and means to limit theangle over which said members swing relative to one another.

2. A hinge construction as claimed in claim 1, said projection beingsemi-circular and having a shape complementary to said groove.

1. In a hinge construction for pivotally connecting at least one hollowelongated member at one of its ends to a support member, so that saidmembers are swingable relative to one another over an angle of less than90*, said hinge construction comprising a first hinge member adapted tobe secured to said support member and having at least one flat surface,and a second hinge member adapted to be secured to said hollow memberand having a flat surface, said flat surfaces of both hinge membersfacing one another in an abutting relationship, a projection on one saidsurface and a semi-circular groove in the other said surface, saidprojection slidably fittiNg into said groove; the improvement in whichsaid second hinge member comprises a blocklike portion which snugglyfits into said hollow elongated member and a portion projecting fromsaid hollow member and off-set from one of the side walls of said hollowmember and carrying said flat surface, retaining means maintaining saidflat surfaces against one another, said retaining means comprising anintegral extension of said one side wall of said hollow elongatedmember, so that said extension and said projecting portion of the secondhinge member enclose said first hinge member, and means to limit theangle over which said members swing relative to one another.
 2. A hingeconstruction as claimed in claim 1, said projection being semi-circularand having a shape complementary to said groove.
 3. A hinge constructionas claimed in claim 1, said first hinge member having a secondsemi-circular groove coaxial with the first-mentioned groove and lyingon the side of said first hinge member which is opposite thefirst-mentioned groove, and a third hinge member similar to said secondhinge member and carrying a projection that fits into said secondgroove.
 4. A hinge construction as claimed in claim 3, said projectionof said third hinge member being semi-circular and having a shapecomplementary to said second groove.